Bhikkhu Bodhi discusses the Five Spiritual Faculties, the ascending factors that lead toward enlightment and the Four Brahma Viharas, the descending factors that lead toward engagement in the world.

Following the dharma talk, Kim Behan, Executive Director of Buddhist Global Relief, gives a presentation on the founding, goals, and projects of the organization. Buddhist Global Relief is a Buddhist organization dedicated to providing relief from poverty and hunger among impoverished communities worldwide. Read Bhikkhu Bodhi's provocative essay that led to the founding of BGR: “A Challenge to Buddhists”

Our human potential is to express the wings of presence--mindfulness and lovingkindness--through all facets of daiy living. This talk explores the practices that enable us to both serve and savor this precious life.

Connecting with whatever inspires us is an essential part of practice and supports a sense of heartfelt purpose and energy in meditation, expressed as ardency. Rather than 'effort-ing' in practice, born of a sense of obligation or fear, the quality of ardency through which we are moved to engage with our spiritual journey wholeheartedly, is born out of energised love and a clear commitment to what we value and hold as most important in life.